Apparatus for inverting cigarettes or the like

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for inverting filter cigarettes end for end comprises a rotor which is turnable about a vertical axis and supports a set of equidistant two-armed levers rotatable therein about vertical axes. The upper arms of the levers carry fluted coplanar horizontal holders which receive filter cigarettes from the flutes of a horizontal feeding drum and deliver inverted filter cigarettes to the flutes of a horizontal receiving drum after a freshly filled holder travels with the rotor through an angle of about 180*. A stationary cam cooperates with followers on the lower arms of the levers to turn such levers with reference to the rotor so that the flutes of the holders are substantially parallel to the flutes of the feeding drum during acceptance of filter cigarettes from the feeding drum and that the flutes of the holders are substantially parallel to the flutes of the receiving drum during transfer of inverted cigarettes.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Gerhard Koop 2,693,872 11/1954 Baader198/209 X Growlhnsdort, Germany 3,215,250 11/1965 Schubert 198/33 11(2)[2]] Appl. No. 805,332 3,412,842 11/1968 Molins et a1. 198/33 RQX) [22]Had 1969 Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan [45] Pammed June AttorneMichaelS Striker 73 Assignee lhuul-Werke' Korber & Co. KG yHamburg-Bergedort, Germany [32] Priority Mar. 21, 1968 1 GermanyABSTRACT: Apparatus for inverting filter cigarettes end for "7570117 endcomprises a rotor which is turnable about a vertical axis and supports aset of equidistant two-armed levers rotatable [54] APPARATUS FORINVERTING CIGARETTES 0R therein about vertical axes. The upper arms ofthe levers carry THE LIKE fluted coplanar hhotrlizontalf htlallderswllnfch dreceve filte' cigarettes rom t e utes o a orizonta ee mg rum an15 Claims 5 Drawing Flgs' deliver inverted filter cigarettes to theflutes of a horizontal [52] [1.5. CI 198/33, receiving drum after afreshly filled holder travels with the 1 198/229 rotor through an angleof about 180. A stationary cam [51] IIILCI B65g 47/24 cooperates withfollowers on the lower arms of the levers to [50] Field of Search198/332, tum such levers with reference to the rotor so that the flutesof 20 209, 210 the holders are substantially parallel to the flutes ofthe feed-, ing drum during acceptance of filter cigarettes from thefeed- [56] I References and ing drum and that the flutes of the holdersare substantially UNITED STATES PATENTS parallel to the flutes of thereceiving drum during transfer of 1,032,157 7/1-912 Peterson 198/209 Xinverted cigarettes.

' 1 f 1 6 i l i E 1 A 60 I 5 1 W o i f 8 rl2 .4 a 13 1 M N i h i I2 9 I1 N A hfl I PATENTEU JUN 8 19?:

SHEET 1 [IF 2 lNVfNTOR GEIUMRO Mao P APPARATUS FOR INVERTING CIGARETTESOR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates toapparatus for inverting rodshaped articles end for end, particularly forinverting filter cigarettes which are obtained by subdivision of filtercigarettes of double-unit length.

It is customary to produce filter cigarettes by placing mouthpieces ofdouble-unit length between twocigarette rod sections of unit length, bythereupon applying an adhesivecoated uniting band around the mouthpieceand theadjoining ends of cigarette rod sections to form filtercigarettes of double-unit length, and by severing the uniting bandmidway. between the ends of the mouthpiece whereby each cigarette ofdouble-unit length yields two cigarettes of unit length whose filtertips are adjacent to each other. It is therefore necessary to invert oneof each pair of coaxial cigarettes of unit length so as to change itsorientation in order to place its filter tip into the same position asthe filter tip of the noninverted cigarette.

US. Pat. No. 3,215,250 discloses an inverting apparatus which includes ahorizontal drum carrying a set of holders for filter cigarettes. Eachholder is rotatable about an axis which extends radially of the drum andis provided with suction ports to hold cigarettes during inversion. Adrawback of such apparatus is that it must be provided with complicatedmeans for evacuating air from the ports of holders. The evacuating meansincludes channels machined into the holders, their shafts, the drum andthe shaft of the drum.

Another inverting apparatus is disclosed in the copending applicationSer. No. 655,151 now US. Pat. No. 3,472,355, of

Menge which is assigned to the same assignee. The inverting conveyor ofthis apparatus comprises an endless flexible band which is provided withfixedly mounted holders for the cigarettes. The holders receivecigarettes during travel along one stretch of the band and deliverinverted cigarettes -to a receiving drum during travel along the otherstretch of the band. Such apparatus is quite satisfactory; however, theorientation of holders for cigarettes depends too much on tensioning ofthe band. Moreover, it is desirable to change the orientation of holderswith reference to their conveyor during certain stages of transport ofarticles between two stations atone of which the holders receivenoninverted cigarettes and at the other of which inverted cigarettes areremoved from their holders.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide aninverting apparatus for filter cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, filterrod sections, plain cigarettes or analogous rod-shaped articles which issimpler, more reliable and faster than presently-known apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus wherein thearticles need not be held by suction duringinversion, even if sucharticles are transported at a high speed, and

which can automatically discard defective articles during inversion.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus forinverting filter cigarettes or like rodshaped articles end for end in asmall area, at a higher rate of speed than in presently known apparatus,and with reduced expenditures for parts and assembly or maintenancework.

An additional object of the invention is to provide the above outlinedapparatus with a novel inverting conveyor which is simpler thanpresently known inverting conveyors,

The improved inverting apparatus for rod-shaped articles comprises arotor tumable about a preferably vertical first axis, a plurality ofequidistant carriers mounted inand turnable with reference to the rotorabout second axes which are at least substantially parallel to the firstaxis, article-accommodating holder means provided on each carrier androtatable with the rotor between and beyond two angularly spaced Theaforementioned cam is designed to turn the carriers at different angularspeeds about the respective second axes in predetermined angularpositions of the rotor. This renders it possible to hold the flutes ofholder means in substantial parallelism with the flutes of feeding andreceiving means and the two stations. The holder means are preferablylocated in a common plane which is normal to the first axis and eachholder means is preferably offset with reference to the respectivesecond axis. This renders it possible to accommodate a large number ofholder means in a small area and to permit substantial angular movementsof each holder means about the corresponding second axis withoutinterfering with movements of adjoining holder means.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theimproved inverting apparatus itself, however, both as to itsconstruction and its mode of operation, together with additionalfeatures and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal ofthe following detailed description of certain specific embodiments withreference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a side elevational view of aninverting apparatus for filter cigarettes which embodies the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the inverting conveyor as seen in the directionof arrow II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view as seen in the direction of arrowsfromthe line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a two-armed carrier which forms part ofthe inverting conveyor; and

FIG. Sis a schematic view of the drive for the inverting conveyor andreceiving means of the apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1 there isshown an inverting apparatus which is incorporated in a filter cigarettemachine including a cutting drum 1 which receives filter cigarettes ofdouble-unit length and cooperates with a rotary cutter (not shown)serving to subdivide each such cigarette into two filter cigarettes F1,F2 of unit length. The cigarettes of double-unit length are severedmidway across their centrally located filter tips of double-unit lengthso that the filter tips of cigarettes F1, F2 are adjacent to eachother.The flutes of the cutting drum 1 transfer pairs of'cigarettes F1, F2into alternating flutes of a transfer conveyor or drum 2'which rotatesin a clockwise direction. Cigarettes F1 are transported directly intothe flutes of a second transfer conveyor or drum 3. The cigarettes F2are supplied into the flutes of a feeding conveyor here shown as a Thelatter delivers inverted cigarettes F 2 to alternate flutes of thesecond.transfer drum 3 so that the latter accumulates a row ofalternatingcigarettes F1, F2 which are delivered into i the flutes of atesting drum 4. This testing drum 4 may be constructed in a manner asdisclosed, for example, in German Pat. No. 1,205,434.

The drums 5 and6. are axially offset with reference to each other. in amanner as shown in FIG. 2. This enables the apparatus to place theinverted cigarettes F2 into those flutes of the transfer'drum 3 whichalternate with flutes containing cigarettes F1. The axial length of thedrum 5 or 6 equals or approximates half the axial length of the drum 2.It is preferred to use a feeding drum 5 whose dimensions are identicalwith the dimensions of the receiving drum 6. The shafts of drums l to 6are horizontal and are mounted in an upright wall 41 constituting aportion of the frame in the filter cigarette machine. All of the drumsare driven at the same peripheral speed. The reference character Tdenotes the distance between the centers of adjoining flutes in theperiphery of the feeding drum 5; this distance is the same as thatbetween the flutes of the drum 1 or 6. The distance between the centersof flutes in the periphery of the drum 2, 3 or 4 is T/2.

The inverting conveyor 7 is mounted at a level below the drums 5 and 6.This inverting conveyor comprises a stationary housing or casing 8 for arotor or turntable 9. The latter is rotatable about a vertical axis andsupports eleven carriers 11 each of which constitutes a two-armed leverwith vertically spaced upper and lower arms I2, (see also FIGS. 2, 3 and4). Each carrier 11 can turn with reference to the rotor 9 about avertical axis but shares angular movements of the rotor with referenceto the housing 8. The arms 12 of the carriers 11 extend upwardly beyondthe rotor 9 and each thereof supports or is provided with a flutedhorizontal receptacle or holder 13 for a filter cigarette F2. Theseholders 13 are located in a common horizontal plane immediately belowthe drums 5 and 6 (see FIG. 1). In order to move a holder 13 fromregistry with the lowermost flute in the drum 5 into registry with thelowermost flute of the drum 6, the rotor 9 must turn through an angle of180 or close to 180 The lower arm 15 of each carrier 11 is accommodatedin the interior of the housing 8 and is provided with a roller follower31 (FIGS. 2-4) tracking the internal surface of a fixed ring-shapedturning cam 16 secured to an internal shoulder ofthe housing 8.

Each holder 13 is provided with a longitudinally extending flute 13a(see FIGS. 2 and 3) which can receive a filter cigarette F2 from a fluteof the feeding drum 5. Each holder 13 is further provided with a stop orabutment 34 which is adjustable with reference to the arm 12 in thelongitudinal direction of the respective holder and serves as a stop forthat end ofa filter cigarette F2 which is remote from the axis oftherotor 9. This isbest shown in FIG. 2.

A cleaning device including a nozzle 42 is installed at a level abovethe plane of the holders 13 between the drums 5 and 6. The orifice ofthis nozzle 42 can receive compressed air by way of a supply conduit 420which is connected with a compressor or the like (not shown). Thepurpose of streams of air issuing from the orifice of the nozzle 42 isto clean the flutes of holders 13 before such flutes return intoregistry with the flutes of the drum 5 to receive fresh filtercigarettes F2.

FIG. 3 shows that the rotor 9 comprises a sleevelike or cylindricalcentral portion 17 which is rotatable in antifriction bearings 19, 21provided therefor in the lower portion of the housing 8 and an annularupper portion or flange 18 which is rigid or integral with the centralportion 17 and is provided with eleven equidistant vertical bores oropenings 23 for pairs of vertically spaced antifriction bearings 24, 25.Each pair of these bearings supports the central portion or shaft 14 ofa carrier 11. The drive means for rotating the rotor 9 comprises a spurgear 22 which is fixed to the lower end of the central portion 17 and isaccommodated in a chamber provided in the base of the housing 8. Thelatter has a cutout (not shown) for a portion ofa second spur gear 35(FIG. 5) which meshes with the spur gear 22 and is mounted on a verticalshaft fixed to a bevel gear 36. Thebevel gear 36 meshes with a secondbevel gear 37 on a horizontal shaft which is affixed to a spur gear 38.This spur gear meshes with a spur gear 39 on the shaft 6a of thereceiving drum 6. The remaining drums l5 of the apparatus shown in FIG.I are driven in the customary way as known from the art of filtercigarette machines.

Referring again to FIGS. 3 and'4, each carrier 11 is a compositetwo-armed lever wherein the arms l2, 15 are secured to the shaft 14 byavertical bolt 28 extending through an axial bore of the shaft 14 andmeshing with a nut which biases its head against the underside of thelower arm 15. The nut biases the upper arm 12 against the adjoining endface of the shaft 14. The shaft 14 has trunnions 26, 27 whichrespectively extend into bores of the arms 15, 12. The lower arm 15 hasa pin 29 for the roller follower 31. A helical spring 33 operatesbetween a post 32 of the flange 18 and the lower arm 15 to bias theroller follower 31 against the internal surface of the turning cam 16.FIGS. 2 to 4 show that the arms l2, 15 of each carrier 11 are angularlyoffset with reference to each other to insure that each carrier can turnin the corresponding bearings 24, 25 without interfering with adjoiningcarriers. In other words, each upper arm 12 is offset from thecorresponding shaft 14.

If desired, the testing drum 4 can be installed between the drums 1 and2 so that the drums 2, 3, 5 and 6 receive tested cigarettes. If theinverting conveyor 7 is installed in a manner as shown in FIG. 1, i.e.,ahead of the testing drum 4, as considered in the direction of travel ofcigarettes F2, it performs the additional purpose of segregating ordiscarding at least some defective cigarettes F2 so that cigaretteswherein the filter tips do not adhere to tobacco rod sections orcigarettes exhibiting similar defects are ejected ahead of the receivingdrum 6.

The operation:

The cutting drum 1 receives filter cigarettes of double-unit lengthwherein filter tips of double-unit length are located between and areconnected with two wrapped cigarette rod sections of unit length. Thedrum 1 cooperates with the aforementioned rotary knife which severs eachcigarette to produce pairs of coaxial filter cigarettes F1, F2 of unitlength but with the filter tips of cigarettes F1 adjacent to filter tipsof cigarettes F2. The flutes of the transfer drum 2 receive successivepairs of cigarettes F1, F2 and deliver the cigarettes F1 to alternateflutes of the transfer drum 3. The cigarettes F2 are transferred intosuccessive flutes of the feeding drum 5 which is rotated in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1. The flutes of thetransfer drum 3 deliver filter cigarettes Fl into alternate flutes ofthe testing drum 4.

The flutes of the feeding drum 5 deliver filter cigarettes F2 into theflutes 13a of successive holders 13 on the upper arms 12 of carriers 11which rotate with and turn with reference to the rotor 9. Angularmovements of carriers 11 with reference to the rotor 9 are determined bythe configuration of internal surface on the fixed turning cam 16 whichis tracked by the roller followers 31. The station where the drum 5delivers cigarettes F2 to the flutes 13a of holders 13 is denoted by thecharacter A. The character B denotes the station where invertedcigarettes F2 are delivered to the flutes of the receiving drum 6. Theconfiguration of the internal surface on the turning cam 16 is selectedin such a way that each holder 13 is substantially parallel to lowermostflute of the feeding drum 5 when such holder reaches the first transferstation A. At the same time, a holder 13 occupying the station A iscaused to move slightly lengthwise so that its stop 34 moves intoabutment with the adjoining end face of the cigarette F2 which isdeposited in the flute 13a of such holder. In other words, such a holder13 is caused to move in parallelism with the lower most flute of thedrum 5. The rotor 9 rotates in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG.2, and the turning cam 16 causes the carrier 11 whose holder 13 receiveda cigarette F2 at the station A to maintain the holder in parallelismwith the flutes of the drum 5 while the holder 13 is terminated when thecorresponding cigarette F2 moves away from the drum 5 sufficiently topermit its inversion during travel toward the second transfer station B.Such inversion is effected in response to rotation of the rotor 9 and inresponse to some angular displacement of the carrier 11 with referenceto the rotor while the corresponding holder 13 travels from the stationA toward the station B. The cam 16 causes the carrier 11 which travelstoward the station B to turn in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG.2. The inversion of cigarette F2 is completed shortly before thecorresponding holder 13 reaches the station E. While the holder 13approaches the station B the cam 16 causes the corresponding carrier 11to turn in the rotor 9 so that the inverted cigarette F2 moves insubstantial parallelism with the flutes of the receiving drum 6. Aslight axial movement which is imparted to a holder 13 which approachesthe station B causes the corresponding stop 34 to move away from theadjoining end of the inverted cigarette F2. This results in slightmisalignment between the flute 13a of the holder 13 and the lowermostflute of the receiving drum 6; however, such minor misalignment can bereadily compensated for by making the flutes of the drum 6 slightlywider than the diameter of a filter cigarette F2. The same applies forthe flutes of the drum 5. The misalignment is very small. The drums 5and 6 are preferably suction drums and are designed to respectively holdcigarettes F2 by suction during delivery toward and during withdrawalfrom the flutes 13a of holders 13.

An important advantage of the inverting conveyor 7 is that it maintainsfilter cigarettes F2 in a substantially horizontal plane so that thecigarettes are held in their flutes by gravity during inversion whiletraveling from the station A toward the station B. Each invertedcigarette F2 which enters a flute of the receiving drum 6 is parallelwith the cigarettes F1 in the flutes of the transfer drum 3. Therefore,the inverted cigarettes F2 can be placed into empty flutes of the drum 3to alternate with cigarettes F1 and to share their movements toward thetesting drum 4.

Even though the inverting conveyor 7 comprises an odd number (l l) ofcarriers 11, and even though each of the drums 5, 6 is provided with aneven number of flutes, the lowermost flute of the drum 5 delivers anoninverted cigarette F2 to the adjoining holder 13 when the foremostempty flute of the drum 6 receives an inverted cigarette F2 at thetransfer station B. This is due to the fact that the drum 6 is angularlyoffset with reference to the drum 5 by a distance T/2. Such angulardisplacement of the drum 6 insures that the latter can deliver invertedcigarettes F2 into empty flutes of the transfer drum 3.

All such cigarettes F2 which are not properly deposited in the flutes13a of the holders 13 drop in the space outside of or within the rotor 9without affecting the operation of the inverting conveyor 7. As shown inFIG. I, the flange 18 of the rotor 9 is formed with a downwardly andoutwardly sloping conical surface which directs descending filtercigarettes F2 or portions of such cigarettes away from the housing 8.Also, the central portion 17 of the rotor 9 is preferably formed with arelatively large axial passage (shown in FIG..2) which permitsimproperly transferred or defective cigarettes F2 to descend and to becollected in a suitable receptacle, not shown. Many defective cigarettesF2 are ejected from the carriers 11 by centrifugal force so that theyare automatically removed from the inverting conveyor. Defectivecigarettes F2 are likely to be produced when the filter cigarettemachine which includes the cutting drum 1 is started. At such time, thefilter cigarette machine is likely to produce filter cigarettes whereinthe filter tips do not adhere to the adjoining cigarette rod sections sothat the filter tips and the cigarette rod sections are likely to becomeseparated during transfer onto the holders 13 or during rotation of suchholders between the stations A and B.

The flute 13a of each empty holder 13 which travels from the station Bback toward the station A is cleaned by compressed air which isdischarged by the orifice of the nozzle 42.

The aforementioned angular displacements of holders 13 with reference tothe rotor 9 during travel of holders at the stations A and B aredesirable and advantageous because they insure that the holders 13 canhold their flutes 13a in substantial parallelism with the flutes of thedrums 5 and 6 during reception and delivery of cigarettes F2. It will bereadily understood that the delivery of cigarettes F2 into the flutes13a of holders l3 and into the flutes of the drum 6 would be much moredifficult if the holders 13 would be rigidly connected to and wouldextend radially or substantially radially with reference to the centralportion 17. This would reduce the length of intervals during which aholder 13 would remain parallel to the flutes of the drum 5 or 6. lt isfurther to be noted that the inverting apparatus is designed to invert alarge number of filter cigarettes F2 per unit of time so that theprovision of turnable carriers 11 and ofa specially configurated turningcam 16 is of added importance. Many presently known inverting conveyorsare unreliable when they operate above a certain relatively low speed,even if the cigarettes which are transferred into the flutes of theinverting conveyor are held by suction. Such retention by suction is notnecessary in the inverting apparatus of my invention because thecigarettes are inverted during travel in a horizontal plane and are heldagainst the action of centrifugal force by stops 34.

The improved apparatus can be used with advantage for inversion of othertypes of rod-shaped articles, for example, for inversion of filtercigars, filter cigarillos, plain cigarettes of unit length of multipleunit length, filter rod sections of unit length or multiple unit length,or the like.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featureswhich fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic andspecific aspects of my con tribution to the art.

What I claim as new and desire to be protected by Letters Patent is setforth in the appended.

1. Apparatus for inverting cigarettes or like rod-shaped articles endfor end, comprising an inverting conveyor including a rotor turnableabout a first axis, a plurality of equidistant carriers mounted in andturnable with reference to said rotor about second axes which are atleast substantially parallel to said first axis, each of said carrierscomprising article-accommodating holder means rotatable with said rotorin a substantially horizontal plane between and beyond first and secondangularly spaced stations; turning means for turning said carriers withreference to said rotor, said turning means comprising means for turningsaid carriers-in at least one predetermined angular position of saidrotor in which the respective carriers are located in the region of saidfirst station-at such a rate that the orientation of successive carrierswith reference to said first station remains at least substantiallyunchanged during travel past said first station; feeding means forsupplying articles to successive holder means at one of said stations;and receiving means for accepting inverted articles from successiveholder means at the other station.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said holder means are offsetwith reference to the respective second axes.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said carrierscomprises a lever.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein each of said leverscomprises a first arm rigid with the respective holder means and asecond arm receiving motion from said turning means.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said turning means comprisesstationary cam means and each of said second arms is provided withfollower means tracking said cam means.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said holder means isprovided with an elongated article-accommodating first flute and whereinsaid feeding means comprises a second conveyor having a plurality ofequidistant article-accommodating second flutes moving seriatim pastsaid one station, each second flute at said one station being at leastsubstantially parallel to the nearest first flute.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said holder means isprovided with an elongated article-accommodating first flute and whereinsaid receiving means comprises a second conveyor having a plurality ofequidistant article-accommodating second flutes moving seriatim pastsaid other station, each second flute at said other station being atleast substantially parallel to the nearest first flute.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said holder means isprovided with an elongated article-accommodating flute having a firstend nearer to and a second end more distant from said first axis, eachof said carriers further comprising stop means adjacent to the secondends of the respective flutes and arranged to serve as an abutment forthe outer end of an article which is admitted into such flute at saidone station.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said turning means furthercomprises means for imparting to said holder means at each of saidstations a movement in longitudinal direction of the respective flute.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said rotor comprises anannular portion and wherein said first axis is vertical.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10. wherein said holder means arelocated at a level above said annular portion.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising means forcleaning said holder means during movement from said other stationtoward said one station.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said cleaning meanscomprises nozzle means and a source of compressed gas connected withsaid nozzle means so that said nozzle means discharges compressed gasagainst successive holder means.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising second conveyormeans arranged to transport two rows of rod-shaped articles and to admitsuccessive articles of one of said rows to said feeding means, and thirdconveyor means for receiving the articles of the other row from saidsecond conveyor means, said receiving conveyor means being arranged todeliver inverted articles of said one row between the articles of theother row on said third conveyor means.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said second and thirdconveyor means comprise fluted drums and wherein each of said receivingand feeding means comprises a further drum, one of said further drumsbeing axially offset with reference to the other further drum.

1. Apparatus for inverting cigarettes or like rod-shaped articles endfor end, comprising an inverting conveyor including a rotor turnableabout a first axis, a plurality of equidistant carriers mounted in andturnable with reference to said rotor about second axes which are atleast substantially parallel to said first axis, each of said carrierscomprising articleaccommodating holder means rotatable with said rotorin a substantially horizontal plane between and beyond first and secondangularly spaced stations; turning means for turning said carriers withreference to said rotor, said turning means comprising means for turningsaid carriers- in at least one predetermined angular position of saidrotor in which the respective carriers are located in the region of saidfirst station- at such a rate that the orientation of successivecarriers with reference to said first station remains at leastsubstantially unchanged during travel past said first station; feedingmeans for supplying articles to successive holder means at one of saidstations; and receiving means for accepting inverted articles fromsuccessive holder means at the other station.
 2. Apparatus as defined inclaim 1, wherein said holder means are offset with reference to therespective second axes.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein eachof said carriers comprises a lever.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3,wherein each of said levers comprises a first arm rigid with therespective holder means and a second arm receiving motion from saidturning means.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said turningmeans comprises stationary cam means and each of said second arms isprovided with follower means tracking said cam means.
 6. Apparatus asdefined in claim 1, wherein each of said holder means is provided withan elongated article-accommodating first flute and wherein said feedingmeans comprises a second conveyor having a plurality of equidistantarticle-accommodating second flutes moving seriatim past said onestation, each second flute at said one station being at leastsubstantially parallel to the nearest first flute.
 7. Apparatus asdefined in claim 1, wherein each of said holder means is provided withan elongated article-accommodating first flute and wherein saidreceiving means comprises a second conveyor having a plurality ofequidistant article-accommodating second flutes moving seriatim pastsaid other station, each second flute at said other station being atleast substantially parallel to the nearest first flute.
 8. Apparatus asdefined in claim 1, wherein each of said holder means is provided withan elongated article-accommodating flute having a first end nearer toand a second end more distant from said first axis, each of saidcarriers further comprising stop means adjacent to the second ends ofthe respective flutes and arranged to serve as an abutment for the outerend of an article which is admitted into such flute at said one station.9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said turning means furthercomprises means for imparting to said holder means at each of saidstations a movement in longitudinal direction of the respective flute.10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said rotor comprises anannular portion and wherein said first axis is vertical.
 11. Apparatusas defined in claim 10, wherein said holder means are located at a levelabove said annular portion.
 12. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, furthercomprising means for cleaning said holder means during movement fromsaid other station toward said one station.
 13. Apparatus as defined inclaim 12, wherein said cleaning means comprises Nozzle means and asource of compressed gas connected with said nozzle means so that saidnozzle means discharges compressed gas against successive holder means.14. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising second conveyormeans arranged to transport two rows of rod-shaped articles and to admitsuccessive articles of one of said rows to said feeding means, and thirdconveyor means for receiving the articles of the other row from saidsecond conveyor means, said receiving conveyor means being arranged todeliver inverted articles of said one row between the articles of theother row on said third conveyor means.
 15. Apparatus as defined inclaim 14, wherein said second and third conveyor means comprise fluteddrums and wherein each of said receiving and feeding means comprises afurther drum, one of said further drums being axially offset withreference to the other further drum.